Newcastle 2023/24 season review and player ratings: Isak 9, Guimaraes 8, Tonali 3

We take take a look back at how the campaign played out for Eddie Howe's side

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  Eddie Howe 7/10

  NEWCASTLE 2023/24 SEASON RATINGS: A learning curve season for the manager, dealing with raised expectations, midweek Euro matches for the first time and a nightmare injury list. When the likes of Trippier and Burn were struggling, he should have pulled them out of the firing line but securing seventh place should be a source of pride. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Nick Pope 8/10

  A huge loss when he dislocated his shoulder against Manchester United in December and did not return to the starting XI until the final game of the season. "He has single-handedly kept us in games this season," said teammate Callum Wilson after Pope's injury. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Martin Dubravka 6/10

  Slovakian proved solid enough cover for Pope but he lacked the commanding presence and 'sweeper-keeper' skills of the man he replaced. Remains a decent shot-stopper, though, and was the penalty shoot-out hero against Blackburn in the FA Cup. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Kieran Trippier 6/10

  A frustrating season for the usually ultra-reliable right-back. An impressive 10 assists meant he was joint-third best in the Premier League behind only Cole Palmer (11) and Ollie Watkins (13). But there were also dreadful defensive errors in league defeats at Everton and Manchester United, plus Chelsea in the League Cup. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Paul Dummett 6/10

  No more than a bit-part player, the Geordie defender produced two excellent performances in League Cup wins over Manchester City and Man United. Gave away a clumsy late penalty moments after coming off the bench that cost his team three points against Everton. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Sven Botman 4/10

  A campaign to forget for the Dutch centre-half after suffering two torn ACL injuries in six months. Did not play until December after opting for rest rather than surgery, looked a shell of the player that shone last season on his return before breaking down again in March and will now have surgery, meaning six to nine months out. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Fabian Schar 8/10

  Had been Newcastle's only ever-present defender in an injury-ravaged campaign for the squad until a hamstring problem saw him miss the final few games. Excellent at the back, though, and contributed at the other end of the pitch with five goals, including a stunning finish in the 4-1 Champions League win over PSG. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Jamaal Lascelles 6/10

  Club captain was given an unexpected extended run in the team due to Botman's injury woes. Solid enough from the experienced centre-back but a lack of pace often exposed him. Did score a memorable header in the 4-1 demolition of Chelsea. Ruptured his ACL in March and is out for six to nine months. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Matt Targett 4/10

  A season to be written off by the former Aston Villa left-back who made only one Premier League start due to injuries and just seven appearances across all competitions. Getty Images

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  Emil Krafth 7/10

  Versatile Swedish defender made a welcome return from the previous season's ruptured cruciate ligament. Ability to cover in several defensive positions was much-needed in such aninjury disrupted season for the team. Rewarded with a contract extension in February. PAShow less

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  Lewis Hall 6/10

  A baptism of fire for the teenage left-back. Looked physically out of his depth in the League Cup win over Man City, dropped out of the starting XI picture for a while as he struggled to cope with Howe's intense training requirements. Showed patience and ended the season in the team and playing well. AFPShow less

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  Tino Livramento 7/10

  Has the potential to become Newcastle's - and England's - right-back for years to come. Offers a real attacking threat surging forward, as shown by one 30-yard run before setting up a goal for Almiron in the League Cup win at Man United. Room to improve defensively but that will come under Howe's tutelage. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Dan Burn 7/10

  A season of ups and downs for the Geordie defender. At left-back, his lack of pace was targeted by opponents with some success. Looked more comfortable in a central role. Scored in the unforgettable win over PSG and proudly wore the captain's armband in Trippier's and Lascalles' absence. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Joelinton 8/10

  Brazilian is an integral cog in the machine so his absence after undergoing surgery on a thigh injury was a huge blow. Driving force behind the 4-2 win over Brentford on the final day of the season - his first start since January 6 - and showed why Howe was delighted when the midfielder signed a new long-term deal in April. AFPShow less

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  Sandro Tonali 3/10

  Italian midfielder was Newcastle's marquee summer signing and started the season with a man-of-the-match display in the opening day 5-1 thrashing of Aston Villa. But his world quickly fell apart when he was given a 10-month ban in October for breaking betting rules while at former club AC Milan. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Anthony Gordon 9/10

  A sensational first full season on Tyneside which has seen the winger score 12 goals, provide 10 assists and produced consistent performances that should be enough to earn a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Matt Ritchie 6/10

  Has just completed his eighth season at the club but the 34-year-old is now restricted to late cameos off the bench. Scored in stoppage time with one of those appearances, though, to earn Newcastle a late point at home to his former club Bournemouth. Ritchie "drives standards in training", according to Howe. PAShow less

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  Harvey Barnes 7/10

  Injury-hit first campaign for the summer signing who still contributed four goals in 21 appearances. Memorably scored after coming off the bench in his first game back after a long lay-off to earn his team a point in the extraordinary 4-4 draw with Luton in February. Ended the season on high with a goal against Brentford. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Joe Willock 6/10

  Another huge loss due to injury that resulted in the midfielder making just five league starts. The high point of his season came in the League Cup win at Manchester United with a superb solo run and finish. Would have started the season dreaming of a first England cap, ended it just wanting to be fully fit again. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Lewis Miley 7/10

  The midfielder was an unlikely beneficiary of Newcastle's relentless injury list that resulted in the local boy making his debut aged 17. Would go on to make 26 appearances, provide his first assist and score his first goal before - inevitably - having his season ended due to a back injury. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Elliot Anderson 6/10

  Geordie midfielder, 21, missed a large part of the campaign due to a stress fracture in his lower back. Has the potential to become a key player but needs an injury-free season and regular game time. But must add goals and assists to his game if that is to happen next season. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Sean Longstaff 7/10

  Can frustrate with his final product as his passing and shooting can be wayward at times but his commitment to the cause can never be faulted. He is working hard on his finishing in training, according to manager Howe, and the midfielder contributed a career-best eight goals this season. PAShow less

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  Bruno Guimaraes 8/10

  Brazilian playmaker remains absolutely vital to the cause, making more appearances than anyone else in the squad (48), scoring six goals and providing 10 assists. Remains to be seen what happens over the summer if a big offer comes in, with the 26-year-old's £100m release clause expiring at the end of June. PAShow less

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  Miguel Almiron 7/10

  There was no repeat of last season's scoring streak but the Paraguayan still chipped in with five goals and three assists, including quality finishes against Burnley in the league and Manchester United in the League Cup. Linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in January and reports suggest he could be moving on this summer. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Alexander Isak 9/10

  Magnificent campaign for the Swedish striker who became the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer in 2003-04 to reach the 25-goal mark across all competitions. His 21 league goals left him behind only Cole Palmer (22) and Erling Haaland (27) in the Golden Boot race. A big offer could come in for the 24-year-old before next season. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Callum Wilson 8/10

  A familiar story for the England striker - an impressive goals ratio of 10 goals in 25 appearances but a chunk of the season again lost to injuries. For the second time in four seasons, Wilson failed to play 20 league games. Despite this, Howe insists he wants the 32-year-old to remain at the club. Getty ImagesShow less

Season synopsis

Premier League final position: Seventh

Champions League: Knocked out in group stage

FA Cup: Quarter-finals; beaten 1-0 away to Manchester City

League Cup: Quarter-finals; drew 1-1 after 90 minutes away to Chelsea, lost 4-2 on penalties

It was always going to be a tricky campaign for Eddie Howe's team after the high of a top-four finish the previous season which brought the added burden of midweek Champions League fixtures for the first time in 20 years.

What the manager could not have predicted, though, was a relentless injury list that regularly reached and crossed double figures or the 10-month ban handed to key summer signing Sandro Tonali for breaching betting rules while at former club AC Milan.

The absences would hit them particularly hard mid-season when they finished bottom of their 'Group of Death' in the Champions League – consisting of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and future finalists Borussia Dortmund – which meant they missed out on the consolation of even dropping down to the Europa League.

That blow also coincided with a desperate Premier League run that saw the Magpies lose six times in seven games as well as being knocked out of the League Cup at Chelsea.

But the new year brought renewed hope as players began returning from injury. Newcastle won six of their final 10 games, losing just twice, which secured a respectable seventh place and potentially Europa Conference League football next season, as long as Manchester City beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

Best Performance of season

Newcastle 4 PSG 1: Highlights include the opening day 5-1 demolition of Aston Villa, thrashing Chelsea 4-1 and Spurs 4-0 all at home, while sticking eight past hapless Sheffield United at Bramall Lane – when there was eight different goalscorers – also stick in the memory.

But the breathless night on Tyneside back in October when Newcastle destroyed a PSG side containing the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ousmanne Dembele and Kylian Mbappe was arguably the club's greatest European performance of all time.

It was a win made all the sweeter by local boys Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff being among the scorers in what was the Magpies' first Champions League game on Tyneside in two decades. It was to prove their only victory of the group stage.

Worst Performance of season

Newcastle 1 Nottingham Forest 3: Quite a few contenders in what was a poor season defensively for Howe's men. The 3-0 loss to Everton was up there, when Kieran Trippier was guilty of two dreadful errors directly leading to goals. There was also two 4-1 defeats in North London against Tottenham and Arsenal when Newcastle were completely outplayed.

But in a campaign when Newcastle's home record finished as the fourth best in the Premier League, the December loss against a Forest side on a seven-game winless run was particularly galling.

Adding to the misery was the fact former Magpies striker Chris Wood bagged a hat-trick which made it five defeats in seven games across all competitions in what was their worst run of the campaign.

Thriller of season

Newcastle 4 West Ham United 3: The 4-4 draw with Luton Town in February was certainly the most ludicrous when Newcastle twice took first-half leads only for the Hatters to twice draw level before taking a 4-2 lead before the hour mark. Goals from Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes rescued a point for the home side.

But that game was eclipsed a few weeks later when Newcastle came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 against West Ham at St James' Park thanks to an Alexander Isak penalty – his second of the match – and a double from substitute Barnes in the last 10 minutes that snatched all three points. Anthony Gordon's sending off in injury-time after receiving a second yellow for kicking the ball away only added to the drama.

Player of season

Alexander Isak: Narrowly edges out the also excellent Gordon, Isak's career-best goals haul of 25 – his previous high was 17 at Spanish side Real Sociedad – gave Newcastle a vital cutting edge up front with fellow striker Wilson injured for a chunk of the season.

Such has been his form, Isak is reported to be a summer transfer target for the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, although manager Howe has made clear his determination to keep hold of the Swede.

Goal of season

Fabian Schar v PSG: A few crackers to choose from here. Miguel Almiron curling home a wonder finish against Burnley, Joe Willock's side-foot finish against Manchester United in the League Cup, Joelinton thumping into the top corner versus AC Milan and Bruno Guimaraes volleying home at the back post at Forest.

But Schar's strike against the French champions was the icing on the cake of that stunning night at St James' Park. The Swiss defender was falling over as he curled a stunning shot past Donnarumma from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 4-1 (see best performance of season above for footage of goal).